On North Korea Sanctions, Some Bring Up Human Rights But Not Rodman in UN Security Council Consultations

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, May 20 -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea and sanctions on it were behind closed doors the topics of a UN Security Council meeting on May 20. Afterward sanctions committee chair Sylvie Lucas of Luxembourg emerged to provide a careful summary to the press.

  She said there was discussion of "implementation assistance notices" and of the ship stopped in Panama. Some members brought up human rights -- as an indication of the DPRK's attitude toward its obligations, she hastened to add.

  Inner City Press asked Lucas when other members states might get briefed -- June -- and if there was any further discussion of luxury goods and, yes, Dennis Rodman.

Flash back:  after Dennis Rodman's last strip to North Korea, bearing as gifts for Kim Jong-un a mink coat, Jameson and his own brand of vodka, on January 24 Inner City Press asked Lucas if this level of gift was too low for consideration by the committee. Video here and embedded below.

  No, Lucas said, "this is not too low." She said that "luxury goods are on the sanctions list, there are cases where luxury cases have been stopped and those cases have been referred to the committee... The feeling of the Council is that with DPRK, if you have an embargo on luxury goods this is going to hurt the leading parties."

  (The gaggle outside the Committee meeting was on the record, with digital audio recorders and now as before, small cameras.)

  She said the Rodman case had not arisen in the closed door January 24 meeting of the committee, which focused on an "incident report" about the ship from Cuba to North Korea stopped in Panama, and about scheduling. 

 (Click here for Inner City Press' report from earlier about the Democratic People Republic of Korea Ambassador Sin Son Ho's UN press conference, at which Inner City Press asked about Ban Ki-moon's call to South Korea's president, which the UN has refused to read-out.)

  But if reports are true that the Obama administration, miffed at Rodman's visits, is investigating his gifts to Kim Jong-un, the US is a leading member of the UN's sanctions committee. So soon the US will either put up or shut up. Would it be a slam dunk? Who knows. But here's Exhibit A, on Twitter. Watch this site.

   

In CAR, Chad Soldiers Killed 30 Civilians, Unprovoked, UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Says; Ladsous Has Them in Mali

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, April 4 -- The day after Chad announced it will pull its troops out of the Central African Republic after being accused of abuse and even murder there, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights issued a damning report. 

  The shooting up of a market in Bangui was unprovoked and killed 30. The full text is below.

  When Inner City Press asked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq once again on April 3 about the Chadian "peacekeepers," he referred all questions to the African Union / MISCA -- despite Ban's public statements about CAR.

Inner City Press asked, "Chadians soldiers reportedly killed somewhere between 8 and 30 civilians: Has the UN found out at all whether these Chadian soldiers were part of MISCA or were they part of some other force?"

Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq replied, "it’s up to MISCA to follow up in terms of whether their troops were involved, so you would need to ask the African Union."

  It must be noted that Ban's (or France's) chief of UN Peacekeeping Herve Ladsous decided to include Chadian soldiers in the UN Mission in Mali MINUSMA despite Chad being on the UN's own list of child soldier recruiters. Now what?

  Here's what the OHCHR put out on April 4, 2014:

Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Rupert Colville

Subject: Central African Republic

We have received more detailed information on the incident involving Chadian soldiers in Bangui on March 29, following an initial investigation carried out by a human rights team on the ground.

Earlier this week, the team from the Human Rights and Justice Section of BINUCA visited two medical centers (the Hopital Communautaire, and the Hopital General) where most of the survivors are being treated and also visited the site where the shooting took place at PK 12, in the North of Bangui.

According to the information they have collected so far, on March 29, Chadian national army soldiers in a convoy consisting of several military pick-ups entered Bangui, and went to the neighborhood known as PK 12. Several sources told the investigating team that they believed the Chadian force had entered Bangui to extract remaining Chadians and other Muslim inhabitants, in order to save them from further attacks by anti-Balaka.

As soon as the convoy reached the market area in PK 12, around 3:00 p.m., it reportedly opened fire on the population without any provocation. At the time, the market was full of people, including many girls and women buying and selling produce. As panic-stricken people fled in all directions, the soldiers allegedly continued firing indiscriminately.

According to information the human rights team has gathered so far, it seems the Chadian force’s action was totally disproportionate as they were shooting in a crowded market full of unarmed civilians.

According to the team’s preliminary findings, around 30 people were killed as a result of the shooting and over 300 were seriously injured, including children, people with disabilities, pregnant women and elderly people, as they were less able to run for their lives.

  On March 31, then UNSC President Sylvie Lucas told Inner City Press that she had read the reports, and understood that the Chadians were part of a team to evacuate other Chadians. 

  We aim to have more on this. Watch this site.

   

At UN, Luxembourg Did 14 Stakeout in March Madness, CAR UNclear, Crimea Arria, Palestine Letters

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, March 31 -- When Luxembourg's Ambassador to the UN Sylvie Lucas held her end of Security Council presidency press conference on March 31, she said seven resolutions had been adopted -- and one, on Ukraine and Crimea, was vetoed.

   Inner City Press had earlier asked the UN Spokesperson why the upcoming Crimea "Arria formula" meeting was not listed in the UN Media Alert, even though meeting organizer Lithuania had told the Free UN Coalition for Access there would at least be a question and answer stakeout afterward. The question remains unanswered.

Lucas, though, did fully 14 question and answer stakeouts during the month, a major increase. At the beginning of the month FUNCA had expressed hope for them, and on March 31 offered thanks. Then Inner City Press asked about Palestine and also about the Central African Republic.

  During March, the Mission of the Observer State of Palestine directed letters to Lucas as Council president, and a delegation of the OIC, NAM and the Arab League met with her. She said she conveyed that information, and it was discussed in consultations. 

  But what really comes of it? US Secretary of State John Kerry is in Tel Aviv; the UN's role in these talks is unclear or non-existent.

  In the CAR, the Chadian special forces killed somewhere between eight and 30 civilians, while not being part of the MISCA peackeeping force. Lucas said she had read the reports, and understood that the Chadians were part of a team to evacuate other Chadians. 

  So what happened? Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's 150 word statement does not answer. We aim to have more on this. Watch this site.

   

In Ukraine Ban Ki-moon Met Svoboda Party Leader, But at UN in NY, Ban Takes Only Western Questions, Voice of America (& AP, Bloomberg, CBS/ UNCA)

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, March 28 -- When UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon came to take questions from the media about his trip to and briefing on Ukraine, he mentioned the word "radical."

  It was inevitable: as Inner City Press first reported, while in Kyiv Ban met with the leader of the Svodoba Party, adjudged as both racist and anti-Semitic and most recently beating up a television executive then getting the footage censored from YouTube via a bogus Millennium Digital Copyright Act complaint.

  In fact, on March 27 at the UN General Assembly stakeout Russian ambassador Vitaly Churkin told Inner City Press Ban's meeting was "disturbing" and that he looked forward to an explanation in the March 28 Security Council consultations. Video here. (We hope to have more on this.)

  At the March 28 noon briefing Inner City Press asked Ban's deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq if Ban had known in advance that Svoboda's leader would be present, and if he would address it at the stakeout. Video here.

  Haq declined to provide anything more than the list of parties Ban met with, which was provided after Inner City Press repeatedly asked over two days.

   But when Ban came to speak after briefing the Council, the questioners chosen were AP, CBS (or, the UN's Censorship Alliance), Bloomberg and Voice of America. While noting as an aside that Voice of America tried to get the investigative Press thrown out of Ban's UN, in a request to Ban's now-spokesman,click here, big picture, all four questioners selected by / for Ban were Western -- all US-based, in fact. Ban was not asked about the Svoboda meeting.

   Moments later, Inner City Press asked outgoing Security Council president for March Sylvie Lucas of Luxembourg about Ban meeting Svoboda. She said, among other things, that You should have asked the Secretary General.

  But how? We'll have more on this.

   On March 27 when the UN General Assembly voted on a resolution rejecting the Crimea referendum, it was far from unanimous. There were 100 countries for, 11 against and fully 58 abstaining.

  Afterward, Inner City Press asked Russia Ambassador Vitaly Churkin about citation in the meeting of Kosovo as a precedent, and about UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon having met the leader of the Svoboda Party.

  Churkin took issue with a high US official claiming there was a referendum in Kosovo, and expressed concern about Ban meeting with a party deemed among other things racist and anti-Semitic.

   Inner City Press ran, before 12:10 pm, to the UN noon briefing in order to ask these and other questions. But Ban's deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq had begun and ended the briefing before 12:09. 

   This contrasts to Ban's Spokesperson's Office having, for example in October 2013, delayed the noon briefing so that a(nother) country's speech could be covered, click here for that.

  When asked on behalf of the Free UN Coalition for Accesswhat the Spokesperson's Office policy is, Haq said, "You want a policy where it's all about you." We'll have more on this.

  In the GA meeting beyond Kosovo, Nicaragua cited the Honduras coup as an analogy. St. Vincent's cited Grenada, saying the positions are reversed but abstaining because the Ukraine resolution is about the principals, not the principles.

  Uruguay cited Kosovo and also the referendum carried out in the Malvinas / Falkland Islands. UK Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant was in the room, and tweeted at; if there's a response we'll publish.

   Earlier it was 4:25 am in New York and Washington when theInternational Monetary Fund announced its preliminary agreement for a $14 - $18 billion loan program with Ukraine. 

 Inner City Press asked the IMF to confirm or comment on reports that the Ukrainian "increase the price of natural gas for household consumers by an average of 50%" is attributable to the IMF. 

  At the IMF's 9:30 am embargoed briefing, IMF deputy spokesperson William Murray read out the question then said that the program has five components, including energy sector reform.

  He said Ukraine will reduce subsidies to the energy sector, and that current prices in Ukraine are two to three times lower than in neighboring countries. He said, as it did to other questions, that responses were given in a press conference in Kyiv.

 In New York at the UN, a General Assembly meeting started at 10 am. Russia's Ambassador Vitaly Churkin recounted history and said radicals "called the shots" in the change of government. We've noted that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon met with the leader of the Svoboda party while in Kyiv.

  In Washington later on March 27 the US Congress is expected to act on a $1 billion loan guarantee to Ukraine, but not on the IMF changes the Obama administration requested. Obama Press Secretary Jay Carney issued a statement welcoming the IMF preliminary deal, concluding that "We also remain committed to providing the IMF with the resources it needs – in partnership with Congress – to provide strong support to countries like Ukraine as well as reinforcing the Fund’s governance to reflect the global economy."

  Two weeks ago on March 13, the day after several US Senators argued that International Monetary Fund quota reform would have to be approved by Congress to enable the IMF to meaningfully assist Ukraine, Inner City Press asked IMF spokesperson Gerry Rice if this is true. Video here, from Minute 12:05.

  Rice genially said several times that the question couldn't or wouldn't be answered while the IMF mission is “in the field” in Ukraine. He initially gave the same answer to Inner City Press' question that had nothing to do with Ukraine: is it true, as Russia reportedly argued at the most recent G-20 meeting, that quota reform could be accomplished without US approval, under some set of rule changes?

  Rice during the briefing repeated this could not be answered while the mission is in Ukraine. Later it was conveyed that the reform is not possible without US approval. The answer is appreciated: a benefit of asking in person. But Inner City Press (and the Free UN Coalition for Access) hope to make the online asking of questions work better from now on. 

 And on March 27, for example, IMF deputy spokesperson William Murray read out this question from Inner City Press:

"On Zimbabwe, please confirm IMF is re-opening its office and respond to Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa saying part of the deal included cutting Zimbabwe's wage bill from 70 percent of the budget but this pledge will not be met, 'addressing it overnight would mean very drastic measures which I indicated to them (IMF) I am not prepared to take. That would mean retrenchment of civil servants.'"

  On March 27, Murray said he would not comment directly on what the Finance Minister said, but pointed to a press release we will add a link to.

  Back on March 13 in another non-Ukraine question, Inner City Press asked Rice about a book published earlier this week in Hungary, that the then-economy minister in 2011 told Goldman Sachs that the government would be going to the IMF for a program. Since much currency trading ensued, Inner City Press asked if the IMF has any rules limiting its government interlocutors from trading on or sharing insider information.Video here, from Minute 31:12.

  Rice said there are confidential provisions. But are those only for the contents of communication and not the existence of communications or negotiations? We'll see.

  

On Syria, Attacks on Latakia Port Raised To UN, Chemical Weapon Disputes, Reuters Chief Grabs the Mic

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, March 28 -- Outside the UN Security Council meeting on Syria on March 28, Ambassadors and the UN's humanitarian chief Valerie Amos debated attacks including on Kassab and the port of Latakia.

   Inner City Press asked Syrian Permanent Representative Bashar Ja'afari about Latakia and a Syrian Coalition press release saying he had threatened "to commit a massacre using chemical or conventional weapons under the pretext of protecting convoys of chemical weapons."

   Ja'afari replied that this statement lacked seriousness and said that even the chemical weapons removal ships in Latakia port had been fired at. He said he had raised the attacks on Latakia to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, his Deputy Jan Eliasson and political adviser Jeffrey Feltman as well as Disarmament chief Angela Kane.

  Since the attacks on Latakia raised in the Security Council's closed door consultations on March 26, as reported on by Inner City Press (below), Inner City Press prepared to ask March's Council president Sylvie Lucas of Luxembourg about the issue. 

  Lucas nodded, awaiting the question when the Reuters bureau chief, Lou Charbonneau, shouted out from the other side of the stakeout. He insisted, "I have the microphone," even though Ambassador Lucas was the one managing the order of questions.

  Noting the absurdity -- especially in light of a complaint about "not being able to do" his work Charbonneau filed with the UN, then got blocked from Google's Search by a bogus Digital Millennium Copyright Act filing, click here to view -- Inner City Press nevertheless indicated it would resume after Reuters' demanded question.

  That one turned out to be one that Charbonneau said he intended to ask the UN's Valerie Amos. You should have, he was told.

   On Latakia, Lucas said it had come up and that there are attacks throughout Syria, citing Valerie Amos' previous answer. When Inner City Press asked Amos about attacks, specifically on the largely Armenian Kassab, Amos said there are attacks all over but some impede aid movement more than others.

   Ja'afari had said he wrote to Amos "in English" urging her to raise Kassab in her briefing, and she did.  There was no time to ask Amos of humanitarian issues elsewhere, such as the Sudans and Myanmar.  When US Ambassador Samantha Power came out and spoke, transcript to follow, question were taken only from CBS, Reuters, Fox (apparently not intended) and France 24. So it goes.

   Back on March 26 on Turkey's shoot down of a Syrian plane, Ja'afari said on March 22 he spoke with Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's chief of staff Malcorra -- and with Jeffrey Feltman, then in Kyiv.

  Ja'afari told Inner City Press he has asked UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos to be sure to include the attacks on "the Armenians" in Kassab in her briefing to the Council.

  Also in response, Ja'afari said that the Al Nusra Front is shelling Latakia, where chemical weapons are being taken out of Syria.

  Moments later a Security Council member exclusively told Inner City Press that Russia has proposed a statement on this shelling of Latakia.

  On the March 21 event, described below, Ja'afari told Inner City Press he complained to Malcorra, that the UN is being "corrupted by petro-dollars."

When Qatar sponsored an event at the UN on March 21 at which a report on torture in Syria which Qatar also funded was presented, it was not listed in the UN Journal. Nor was the event broadcast on the UNTV Webcast.

  Inner City Press heard about it and asked the UN's top two spokespeople:

"there is an event in Conference Room 4 right now, sponsored by Qatar, which is no listed in today's UN Journal, nor is it on UN Webcast http://webtv.un.org/ but it appears to be being filmed. Please explain the legal status of this meeting, if there are any sponsored beyond Qatar, how it was publicized and if any request to have it webcast was made. Thanks, on deadline."

  But no answer was provided. Inner City Press ran to the event and from the back of a three quarters empty Conference Room 4 asked why the event was so stealth: not in the UN Journal, not webcast.

  The Permanent Representative of Qatar answered, saying it was a "special event" to which Qatar had invited (some) member states and groups, and (some) media. There is a UN Media Alert, but this event was not put in it.

  Perhaps it was publicized by the Gulf & Western United Nations Correspondents Association, which has twice hosted faux "UN" events by the Syrian National Coalition or Syrian Coalition. (In both cases, the Free UN Coalition for Access suggested that the SNC hold its events in the UN briefing room, accessible to all journalists.)

  Since French Ambassador Gerard Araud, the first questioner flanked by representatives of Saudi Arabia and of Turkey which earlier in the day banned Twitter, has spoken about "fakes" and others about accountability, Inner City Press asked if the groups Al Nusra and ISIS, and those who fund them such as private individuals in Qatar alluded to at the US State Department briefing earlier in the day, could or would be held accountable.

  The SNC representative emphasized what he called links between the Assad regime and ISIS, saying it was too easy to blame the Gulf countries.

Here's from the March 21 US State Department briefing transcript:

Question: you have concerns about the withdrawal of the ambassadors. Do you also have concerns about the reasons that these countries said that they withdrew their ambassadors from Qatar? In other words, do you – if you have concerns about the withdrawal of the ambassadors, do you also have concerns about Qatar’s behavior, which – alleged behavior, let’s say – which led to these countries withdrawing their ambassadors?

MS. PSAKI: Well, I know one of the issues that has been mentioned is the issue of private donations to extremists – and that’s something that some have mentioned – operating in Syria and elsewhere. It remains an important priority in our high-level discussions, and one that we also certainly raise with all states in the region, including Qatar, including the Government of Kuwait, wherever we have concerns.

After Inner City Press asked about the sponsorship of the event, a one-page "Joint Statement by the Co-Organizers" was passed out, listing among the co-organizers France, the UK, US, Belgium, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Inner City Press tweeted it. Watch this site.

   

After North Korea Launch and Meeting, UNSC President Says 15 Agree Violation, Nothing on Trilateral Meeting of Japan South Korea and US in The Hague

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, March 27 -- Two dasy after the Democratic People's Republic of Korea fired medium range missiles toward Japan, the UN Security Council held a meeting late on March 27 at the request of the US.

  Afterward Council president for March Sylvie Lucas of Luxembourg read out "elements to the press" that all members agreed the launch was a violation, and that consultations would continue. Video here.

  Inner City Press asked if a Presidential Statement or Press Statement was envisioned, but Lucas did not expand. Inner City Press asked her, and then South Korean's Permanent Representative, if they thought the launch's timing was related to the trilateral meeting held in The Hague between Japan, South Korea and the US.

  Lucas said it did not come up; the South Korean PR said that whatever North Korea's motives, the launch was a violation. Then it was over.

  During the meeting, a North Korean diplomat sat on a couch further down the second floor. Another diplomat spoke with him there, then returned, into the Council then out in the so-called Turkish Lounge. We hope to have more on this.

   On March 26, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq was asked by Inner City Press if Ban had any comments on the launch.. Video here.

  Haq said, You'll recall after the firing of short range missiles, on March 17... the Secretary General emphasized the need for DPRK to refrain for provocative acts. 

  But even three hours later as a UN Security Council meeting began, on the Golan Heights, there was no UN Secretariat comment yet. (Later one was emailed out: in response to questions.) French Ambassador Gerard Araudbreezed into the 3 pm meeting at 3:22 and said there might be a Council statement, he wasn't sure.

  The night before, Inner City Press asked Luxembourg, as UN Security Council president for March, if any meeting was in the works. Their mission quickly replied, "@innercitypress we are aware of reports, no UNSC meeting foreseen for the moment."

  And on March 26 she said nothing for that day; if tomorrow, she said let's see if there is a request.

  In Washington, US State Department deputy spokesperson Marie Harf said on March 25: 

North Korea launched two No Dong medium-range ballistic missiles from near its west coast on March 26 (local time). Both flew in an easterly direction over North Korea’s land mass and impacted in the Sea of Japan, according to U.S. government information. It does not appear that North Korea issued any maritime notifications providing warning of the launches.

We are closely monitoring the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Coming on the heels of the DPRK’s March 3 and February 27 Scud launches, these March 26 launches of medium-range No Dong ballistic missiles represent a troubling and provocative escalation that the United States takes very seriously.

Launches using ballistic missile technology are a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions 1718, 1874, and 2094. Resolutions 1718 and 1874 require North Korea to suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile program and to re-establish a moratorium on missile launches. Resolutions 1874 and 2094 further require the DPRK to stop conducting any launches using ballistic missile technology.

We are closely coordinating with our allies and partners, including in the UN Security Council, to take the appropriate measures in response to this latest provocation and to address the threat to global security posed by the DPRK’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

We urge North Korea to exercise restraint and refrain from further threatening actions.

    Was the March 24 press conference one of threats? The DPRK deputyrecounted a litany of ways the US has thrown "cold water" on attempts at reconciliation on the Korean peninsula, adding the the US needs an enemy in the region to justify its military presence.

  Inner City Press, after thanking Ri Tong Il for this briefing on behalf of the Free UN Coalition for Access, asked him to comment on the trilateral Japan - South Korea - US meeting planned for March 24 in The Hague, and on last week's announcement that DPRK will resume "high level" talks with Japan. Video here from Minute 29:57.

  After saying, "I know you," Ri Tong Il told Inner City Press to "ask them" the first question. On the second, he cited the 2002 Joint Declaration in Pyongyang with Japan -- here -- adding that "past crimes" must be addressed.

  After his opening statement he'd said he could only take a couple of questions. Pamela Falk of CBS grabbed the first one for the United Nations Correspondents Association, and promptly asked two questions.  And so it goes at the UN.

  Back on January 24, DPRK's then Permanent Representative Sin Son Ho held a press conference.  He read a five-page statement entitled "It Is the Invariable Stand of the DPRK to Improve the Inter-Korean Relations and Achieve National Reconciliation and Unity."

  When he was finished he took three questions. He called on Inner City Press second, and when asked, "Will you answer the first one?" said he would take them in a bunch. On behalf of the Free UN Coalition for Access, he was thanked for the briefing, and prospectively for answers. But it was not to be.

  Inner City Press asked if the inter-family reunions he referred to would go forward even if the South Korean - US military exercises set for February do. Inner City Press asked asked, as it has the UN, about UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's January 2 call to President Park of South Korea, on which the UN refused to give a read-out. (FUNCA has protested this.)

  But Sin Son Ho said that the answers would be found in his statement -- no Ban there -- or on KNCA, state media. Might they know what Ban and Park discussed, and why?

 South Korean president Park Geun-hye went public on January 2 about a call her office said was initiated to her by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. 

  Ban "discussed the situation in North Korea, regional tensions over Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to a controversial war shrine and other issues of common interest, her office said."

  What were these other "issues of common interest"?  More than four hours after Park's office went public about the call, the UN through Ban's spokespeople or otherwise, has provided no information. This is a pattern.

  As 2013 ended at the UN, the question arose why Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's statement on tensions between Japan and Ban's native South Korea (and China) was given to regional media before the Press which had formally asked a question, and why Ban's spokesperson has been deflecting questions since.

The answer, proposed exclusively to Inner City Press by well-placed sources in South Korea, involves Ban Ki-moon being in a poll for the country's 2017 presidential election, as a candidate of incumbent Park's faction of the ruling Saenuri party. Click here for story on that polling, in Korean.

Last week, Inner City Press asked Ban's two top spokespeople:

"on South Sudan, in light of the SG's response at his last stakeout, please provide his / the UN's response to the subsequent report that

'The Korean side is now accusing the Japanese of politically using the emergency faced by Korean troops in South Sudan, with one unnamed official saying that the Abe government’s linking of the ammo supply to its 'active pacifism' initiative was a 'clear political provocation.' Another unnamed official said Korea had told the Japanese to handle this quietly out of fear that the locals would turn hostile and attack Korean troops if word got out that they’d received ammo, but the Japanese were instead turning this into a big story. Korean government officials are also saying that they intend to return all the ammo to Japan once Korean ammo arrives from Korea, despite the fact that the Japanese said they could keep it.'"

But the spokesperson, Martin Nesirky and Farhan Haq, never answered this question, or even acknowledged receiving it. 

  While later a "Note to Correspondent" about Ban's position was sent out, and Inner City Press reported on it, it turned out that the very same Ban position had been given out to regional media 13 hours before. This practice is being opposed in 2014 by the Free UN Coalition for Access, whatever the motives of the practice.

  But here, as also illuminated by Ban spokesperson Nesirky's push-back at questions from Chinese media on December 30, and December 31 responding to Inner City Press' factual question about whether UNMISS had been contacted by the South Koreans before the South Koreans contacted Japan (and also about UNMISS' relationship with the American military or bullet-holders), there may be more.

  December 31 Q&A video here, and embedded below.

The theory, made composite from Inner City Press' South Korean sources, goes like this:

"South Korean peace keepers receive artillery fire from hostile forces -> SK field commanders immediately request ammunition shipment from Japanese peace keepers in the vicinity -> Japanese cabinet convenes an emergency meeting to approve the shipment -> shipment goes to SK -> upon media scrutiny (as this could mark a landmark shift in Japan's overseas defense activity), SK denies making a direct request to Japan and claims that it was made through UN (UNMISS) -> Japan refutes and even releases a clip from video conf between SK and JP units to prove its point -> UN supports SK's claim -> SK explains that the decision was made by field commanders... To put it succinctly [according to this theory]: Ban is potentially giving political cover for the Park administration by insisting on UN's role in the process."

So why didn't Ban's spokesperson answer Inner City Press' initial written question last week, or Inner City Press' in-person December 31 question? Such stonewalling only gives rise to more questions, or as here, theories. Or, when will it and the other so far ignored questions be answered? Watch this site.

Footnote: as context for most other than Chinese media on December 30 not pursuing this, consider that the insider United Nations Correspondents Association has accepted a large Samsung television, which was being installed on December 31. 

 UNCA's 2013 and 2014 president Pamela Falk claimed that the TV does not involve any mission. But even the UN, when asked by Inner City Press and the Free UN Coalition for Access, admitted that the TV equipment went from Samsung to South Korea's Mission to the UN to the UN and then to UNCA: it involved the South Korean mission and government. We'll have more on this.  
[January 2 update, and e-mail from "UNCA Office, here.]

Update: after 5:50 pm on New Years Eve the UN provided the responses below, which we publish just after 6 pm on December 31:

Subject: Your questions at noon on South Sudan
From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not Reply [at] un.org
Date: Tue, Dec 31, 2013 at 5:52 PM
To: Matthew.Lee [at] innercitypress.com

Regarding your question at noon today on Pariang, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations has provided the following information from the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS):

As of 31 December, UNMISS has 120 troops in its base in Pariang. The Mission reports it has no evidence that Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) elements are involved in the conflict in South Sudan.

On your question on the provision of ammunition to the South Korean engineering corps in UNMISS, this was a bilateral arrangement between two Member States. We suggest you direct your question to the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea. In terms of the UNMISS role, the Mission transported the ammunition to the South Korean troops in Bor. The US is a troop contributor to UNMISS; it contributes five military personnel to the Mission.